ALOR STAR: Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor today said Padang Serai member of parliament Datuk Azman Nasrudin must be regarded as innocent until proven guilty.
The Perikatan Nasional MP claimed trial yesterday at the Shah Alam Sessions Court to a charge of abetting corruption involving a cattle farming joint-venture project linked to a Kedah state-owned company.
Sanusi, who is also Kedah PN chairman, said the coalition would not take any action against Azman while the case remains before the courts.
“We will not take any action. He is not guilty yet, unless and until the court finds him guilty. Being charged does not mean he is guilty; he is not guilty until proven otherwise,” he told reporters at a press conference at Wisma Darul Aman today.
Sanusi said he would refrain from elaborating further as the matter was now subject to judicial proceedings. However, he noted that the alleged offence involved a project that fell under the purview of the previous state government administration, when Kedah was led by then menteri besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.
He said Azman at the time was serving as the State Agriculture Committee chairman.
“This was before my time, before 2020. I do not know the details, and I am not sure. I don’t know anything. I have only read about it in the newspapers,” he said.
Sanusi also acknowledged Azman’s claim that the prosecution was politically motivated.
“Those who gave (bribes) were different people, received benefits were different, and the one who was charged was someone else. There’s something strange there. To those following the issue, the perception is clear, but since this is now a court matter, I cannot say much,” he added.
He also said the cattle farming project was no longer ongoing after Kedah Agro Holding Bhd (KAHB), the state government-linked company involved, was dissolved and subsequently privatised.
“This was before our administration. Kedah Agro has been closed. We implemented a voluntary separation scheme at the time and ceased operations before the company was taken over by a private entity,” he said.
Yesterday, Azman claimed trial to abetting businessman Amar Assuat Abu Bakar in receiving a RM400,000 bribe from a contractor. He was released after posting the RM75,000 bail.
The alleged gratification was purportedly a reward for helping secure the Fidlot Beef Cattle Project at Kedah Agro’s feedlot farm in Kubang Pasu. Azman allegedly facilitated the deal by directing the KAHB chief executive officer to issue an offer letter to the contractor.
The charge, framed under Section 28(1) of the MACC Act, carries a maximum 20-year jail term and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
The 53-year-old lawmaker described the charge against him as unfounded and politically motivated.
Meanwhile, Amar Assuat also claimed trial after he was separately charged at the same court with two counts of soliciting and receiving RM400,000 in graft from the same contractor between June 20 and June 30, 2020.
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